Contributions
1,892 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNuclear Test Veterans: MedalsI am glad that the noble Lord also mentioned the communities in Australia and elsewhere. Of course, as I said, there has been a government ex gratia payment, which I believe was…24 Nov 2022HANSARDNuclear Test Veterans: MedalsI am glad to have the further experience of the noble Lord. Although I was not aware of his visit, he brings great emotion to this subject, which is very helpful on a day when we…24 Nov 2022HANSARDGovernment Contracts: Bain & CompanyI agree that the noble Lord, Lord Hain, has been a great campaigner on this issue and I thank the noble Lord, Lord Collins, for repeating that. It is very important that we fight…23 Nov 2022HANSARDGovernment Contracts: Bain & CompanyBefore I answer the Question, I should say that it was a privilege to hear the South African President addressing Parliament yesterday. I hope I speak for others when I say that I…23 Nov 2022HANSARDGovernment Contracts: Bain & CompanyMy Lords, our understanding is that Bain & Company currently does no work for the US federal Government or US federal government agencies and has done no such work since early…23 Nov 2022HANSARDGovernment Contracts: Bain & CompanyBain is not being paid anything at the moment, and I think that in the last year the figure was £2 million. I share the noble Lord’s view that we have to look carefully when we…23 Nov 2022HANSARDGovernment Contracts: Bain & CompanyOn the subject of US relations, I can say that the Prime Minister met US President Biden at the G20 in Indonesia, and they agreed on the national and international importance of…23 Nov 2022HANSARDGovernment Contracts: Bain & CompanyThere is corporate law which involves the suspension of directors, but I am not able to speak about it today; it is dealt with by another department. However, our new Procurement…23 Nov 2022HANSARDGovernment Contracts: Bain & CompanyI am grateful to the noble Lord for his comments, but it goes rather beyond today’s Question. However, I can say that the Cabinet Office conducted an in-depth review into KPMG…23 Nov 2022HANSARDPublic Duty Costs AllowanceI very much agree with the noble Lord, Ex-Prime Ministers still have a special position in public life and need to pay office and staff costs in support of that. Sometimes, things…21 Nov 2022HANSARDPublic Duty Costs AllowanceIt is very much my hope that the current Prime Minister serves for a long time and that this problem passes.21 Nov 2022HANSARDPublic Duty Costs AllowanceI assure the noble Lord that the Government keep these matters under review and that the level of the limit is reviewed by the Prime Minister, at the start of a Parliament and…21 Nov 2022HANSARDPublic Duty Costs AllowanceI do not agree with that, although I am a big reader of the Big Issue .21 Nov 2022HANSARDPublic Duty Costs AllowanceMy Lords, I do not know how to answer that question. I return to the point I made at the beginning: ex-Prime Ministers have a special position in public life. This is not as it is…21 Nov 2022HANSARDPublic Duty Costs AllowanceWhether to waive such payments is entirely a matter for the ex-Prime Minister involved, as the noble Lord knows only too well. But I applaud Prime Minister Truss for some of the…21 Nov 2022HANSARDPublic Duty Costs AllowanceMy Lords, hitherto this allowance has been the subject of cross-party consensus. Of course, it was introduced by the Conservative Government to update the arrangements at the time…21 Nov 2022HANSARDPublic Duty Costs AllowanceMy Lords, the public duty costs allowance assists former Prime Ministers who remain active in public life. The allowance is not paid directly to former Prime Ministers; rather,…21 Nov 2022HANSARDPublic Duty Costs AllowanceI agree with the noble Baroness. That was exactly what I have been saying, in slightly different language. This allowance has been the subject of cross-party consensus. It is…21 Nov 2022HANSARDPublic Duty Costs AllowanceIt is up to past Prime Ministers, including Gordon Brown, to submit invoices in accordance with the rules of this scheme. I am sure they will continue to do that.21 Nov 2022HANSARDHouse of Lords (Peerage Nominations) Bill [HL]I thank the noble Baroness for making that point. Of course, as she says, the new Prime Minister becomes accountable to the monarch for putting forward the names of Peers in the…18 Nov 2022